Written Answers Nos. 1138-1157
1138. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of Government funding received by an organisation (details supplied) in 2024; the remit of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46320/24]
View answerVision Ireland received €103,600 in funding through the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF) in 2024. This funding was provided in support of the Access Ambassador Programme which provides disability awareness training at The Wayfinding Centre. The Access Ambassador Programme aims to address systemic barriers to accessibility by providing disability awareness training to raise awareness of the issues faced by people with disabilities and build capacity to travel independently.
In addition to the funding provided through DPAF, the Health Service Executive (HSE) have confirmed that they have provided funding to this organisation. I have instructed the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy and provide details of this funding.
1139. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46341/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1140. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the issues caused by a lack of beds available in youth detention centres (details supplied); the future plans for funds to be allocated to youth detention centres; and the supports his Department will introduce to ensure community safety. [46357/24]
View answerThe maximum number of children that can be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus at any time is set by the Minister by way of a Certificate issued under sections 195 and 196 of the Children Act 2001.
In accordance with section 195 of the Children Act 2001, the maximum number of children who may be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus shall be 46 to include a maximum of 40 boys and 6 girls.
Under Section 96 of the Children Act 2001 detention of children is to be used as a last resort. The number of children in detention in Ireland has reduced significantly in recent decades. This is in part facilitated by the existence of a range of alternatives to detention such as the Bail Supervision Scheme and the Youth Diversion Programme.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 - 2027 includes a commitment to carry out a research based assessment of likely demand for detention places and services and the consequent resource requirements to inform future strategic options as well as ongoing planning, budgeting and service development. Work on this matter is ongoing.
Oberstown Children Detention Campus has been allocated €31.048m in the Budget for 2025.
Issues related to community safety are a matter for the Department of Justice.
1141. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an inventory of buildings currently being used in County Clare for the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46361/24]
View answerAs of 5th January 2025, there are 990 people who are International Protection applicants residing in properties in County Clare, and of these, 291 are children with their families.
The Department's responsibility to protect the right to confidentiality of each international protection (IP) applicant is set out in the International Protection Act 2015.
Since 2024, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has not published details of the specific locations of our accommodation centres. This is due to both safety and security concerns and to protect the privacy of international protection applicants. Such information may have been released in the past, however, our updated practice is not to publish specific locations of IPAS Accommodation Centres.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) releases weekly statistics in relation to IP applicants. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing and a wide range of other details. These statistics are located on the Gov.ie website: gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie) .
I trust this information is helpful.
1142. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the accommodation recognition payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46381/24]
View answerThe Accommodation Recognition Payment is a tax-free monthly payment available to those providing accommodation to people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive since March 2022. The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of my Department.
The scheme is currently due to end on 31 March 2025. However, it may be extended by Order in accordance with the governing legislation.
The future of the Accommodation Recognition Payment will be considered in the context of the continued whole of Government response to the war in Ukraine.
1143. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacancies, by grade, currently within his Department; and the estimated timeframe for filling each of the vacancies, in tabular form. [46391/24]
View answerOfficials in my Department are currently developing an annual workforce plan for 2025. Details on numbers of vacancies in the Department will not be available until the plan has been developed and received Management Board approval.
1144. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting for an assessment of needs in Tipperary in 2023 and up to November 2024, in tabular form. [46392/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1145. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of assessment of needs applications carried out by in-house HSE staff in CHO8 to date in 2024, in tabular form. [46419/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1146. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the services that are being provided by Tusla at a HSE facility at Garranes, Carrigtwohill, County Cork. [46424/24]
View answerThank you Deputy for your question relating to services provided by Tusla at a HSE facility in Garranes, Carrigtwohill, County Cork.
I have made contact with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and Tusla has informed me that they do not provide services from a facility in Garranes. Tusla has made enquiries with the Health Services Executive who have informed them that similarly the HSE does not provide services from a facility in Garranes.
1147. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children aged 0 to 18 years who are waiting for first-time intervention in all areas of early intervention in each CHO, by individual area and by each composite LHO within each CHO; the number on the public list; the number on the children’s disability network team list in each CHO, in tabular form; and the length of time that they are awaiting intervention, by age. [46431/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1148. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the occupational therapy and speech and language therapy appointment for a child (details supplied). [46438/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1149. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of high-support disability residential placements available in Co Wexford in the years of 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [46441/24]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1150. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average number of overnight respite beds for children and adults across Ireland; the county with the most overnight respite beds for children and adults; and the county with the lowest number of overnight respite beds for children and adults. [46451/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly. Please include disabilityresidentialservices@equality.gov.ie in reply.
1151. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a number of matters related to funding for a support centre (details supplied) will be examined. [46463/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that while Áiseanna na hÓige is not a member of the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme to which core funding applies however, I note that Áiseanna na hÓige has received funding from its local Tusla office to support the delivery of its services. Work is ongoing to calculate the precise level of funding provided to Áiseanna na hÓige per year since 2022 and this information will be shared with the Deputy shortly.
Delivery of services in Irish is not contingent on an organisation’s membership of the FRC Programme, and I understand that Áiseanna na hÓige provides services through Irish; that it has Irish speakers in Family Support Service and Youth work, that it provides parenting courses and Irish language courses when requested, and that an Irish Preschool/Naíonra service is available.
I secured an additional €800,000 in Budget 2025 for expansion of the FRC Programme. The commissioning of new FRCs is an operational matter for Tusla, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the FRC Programme. Organisations, such as Áiseanna na hÓige, that wish to join the FRC Programme may apply once the application process and criteria have been finalised over the coming weeks.
1152. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider extending paternity leave to longer than two weeks. [46464/24]
View answer1162. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to address the unequal burden of unpaid care work, which often falls on women. [46502/24]
View answer1163. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to encourage more men to take paternity leave and share care-giving responsibilities, in order to reduce the gendered impact on career progression. [46503/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1152, 1162 and 1163 together.
There have been significant improvements in the duration of family leaves for working families in recent years. The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5) of the Act limits this entitlement in the case of multiple births to a single period of leave.
Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are now entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Parent's Leave is an individual separate entitlement and is non-transferable between parents.
Parental leave entitlements were also extended in 2019 with an increase of leave from 18 weeks to 26 weeks, and the extension of the time period in which the leave can be taken from when the child attains the age of 8 years to when the child attains the age of 12 years.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Given the significant expansion to family leaves and workplace supports in the last number of years, there are no further plans to amend paternity leave at this time.
1153. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will urgently provide appropriate accommodation for a pregnant mother and her daughter (details supplied). [46466/24]
View answerThe accommodation provided to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature and it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations.
The Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT) is not in a position to guarantee accommodation for people with specific medical needs, although through the first initial HSE assessment in Citywest, staff will do their best to meet the accommodation needs of each case presented.
Where medical issues are raised after a person receives accommodation, my officials work with the HSE on the basis of an agreed protocol which sets out the criteria for medical moves. All requests to be relocated on medical grounds must be supported by evidence from HSE clinical personnel that indicates that this request is essential and necessary for the requester’s health status. Such requests should be sent to my Department at UkraineTempAccom@equality.gov.ie.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) are entitled to make their own accommodation arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, subject to availability, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70. Details regarding the Offer a Home scheme can be found under www.offerahome.ie.
BOTPs may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement, if eligible. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found on gov.ie (Intreo centres and local branch offices).
1154. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will allow the residents of Dolcain House, Dublin 22, to remain there rather than being sent to accommodation which has been deemed unfit for cold weather and harsh conditions; if he will ensure that they will be guaranteed a space in indoor accommodation; and if he will ensure some stability by removing the threat of being moved that is constantly put on these international protection applicants. [46491/24]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy.
There is significant pressure on the International Protection Accommodation system at present, and on the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) which manages the intake and movement of people seeking international protection.
This has been the case since 2022, when numbers of people applying for International Protection in Ireland increased significantly, a trend that has continued to date. In addition, over 113,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine arrived in Ireland, and so there are significant shortages of suitable accommodation in this sector.
At this time, there are approximately 3,100 people who are international protection applicants who have not been offered accommodation. This is because, since the end of 2023, IPAS has not had enough accommodation to offer spaces to all applicants.
IPAS can confirm that the individuals referred to by the Deputy are accommodated in designated accommodation centres within the IPAS system and that IPAS endeavours to keep all transfers to a minimum where possible.
On occasion, for operational reasons and in order to maximise the use of bed spaces within the IPAS system, people seeking international protection are required to be transferred from one accommodation centre to another.
Residents are informed as early as possible that they are being transferred to a different accommodation centre. Subsequently, they are then provided with a transfer letter outlining the details of their newly designated accommodation.
This is done due to the logistical complexities involved in the movement of those seeking international protection through the reception system, as well as to ensure their safe and secure travel from one location to another.
1155. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth besides gender pay gap reporting, what steps his Department is taking to close the gender pay gap; and how his Department plans to ensure equal pay for equal work across all sectors. [46493/24]
View answer1159. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide data on how the gender pay gap varies across different sectors, industries and levels of seniority. [46499/24]
View answer1160. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a specific group in particular that faces the greatest gender pay disparities (for example, women with disabilities, migrant women, and LGBTQ+ persons). [46500/24]
View answer1161. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans on extending the reporting of gender pay gaps to smaller businesses. [46501/24]
View answer1164. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how he plans to monitor and evaluate progress on gender pay equality; and what metrics will be used to measure success. [46504/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1155, 1159, 1160, 1161 and 1164 together.
The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act requires organisations to report on their hourly gender pay gap across a range of metrics, including mean hourly remuneration, median hourly remuneration, bonuses and benefit in kind, and employee quartiles.
Organisations must also publish a statement outlining the reasons for their gender pay gap (if any) and any measures that they are taking to reduce or eliminate the gap. Gender pay gap reporting aims to encourage organisations to reflect on the drivers behind their gender pay gaps and to identify actions to reduce or eliminate it. It also serves to inform Government policy.
In 2024, organisations with over 150 employees were required to report on their gender pay gap. In 2025, the Regulations will be revised to extend this obligation to organisations with over 50 employees.
An online reporting system is in development and will consist of a central portal where all employer reports must be uploaded. The portal will provide and allow for the comparison of data on how the gender pay gap varies across different sectors, industries, and levels of seniority.
The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 provides the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission with the power to make an application to the Circuit Court or to the High Court for the granting of an order requirement the employer concerned to comply with Regulations. The 2021 Act also provides that an employee who claims that his or her current employer has failed to comply with Regulations may refer their employer to the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission. The Director General shall investigate the complaint if he or she is satisfied that there is prima facie case to warrant the investigation.
Further actions are being taken under the Pay Transparency Directive - Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023- to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms. This Directive came into force in June 2023. Member States have three years from that date to transpose it into national law. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 already complies with the basic requirements of the Directive.
Department officials are currently examining the best approach to transpose other elements of this Directive into Irish law.
1156. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures Government is taking to support single mothers in balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, especially in relation to affordable childcare and social supports. [46495/24]
View answerThere are a number of measures in place to support single parents. Queries regarding matters under the remit Departments can be directed to those Departments.
Firstly in 2024, I announced that from 1 August, parents will be able to avail of 9 weeks paid Parent’s Leave and Benefit. This measure means that under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit schemes, the number of weeks that parents can take time off work, with financial support from the State, increases from 7 weeks to 9 weeks. With this new measure the Government has now more than quadrupled paid parent's leave, from two weeks up to nine weeks. Budget 2025 saw further increases to rates of these payments alongside other measures to support single parents.
Regarding early learning and childcare, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare. The subsidies are progressive in nature. All families can receive a universal subsidy, but the highest subsides are provided to families with the lowest levels of income through an income assessment process.
The NCS is designed to fit around the needs of working families and maximise the reach and effectiveness of funding. This design allows the parents to receive a subsidy for the hours that they actually require. The number of hours can also be altered week to week, for example allowing more flexibility around the working hours of single parents.
Additionally, the NCS sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children for free access to early learning and childcare on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds.
A review of the National Childcare Scheme published in December 2021 found that, amongst family types, single parents, particularly working single parents, were most likely to report that the NCS positively impacted their family finances.
OECD data shows that the NCS has been effective in reducing the cost of childcare for single parent families. In 2018 prior to the introduction of NCS lone parents earning the minimum wage spent 53% of their net income on childcare. By 2023, early learning and childcare costs in Ireland fell to 6% of their net income for lone parents earning minimum wage. These figures do not account for the most recent enhancements to the NCS made in September 2024 which increased the NCS universal subsidy from €1.40 per hour to €2.14.
This year, my Department will tender for an evaluation of the NCS with a view to identifying further enhancements that can be made to the Scheme. Part of the evaluation will examine how the NCS can better support low income and single parent households.
1157. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s top priorities for advancing women’s rights in the next five years. [46497/24]
View answer1158. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department measures progress on gender equality and women’s rights; and how his Department plans on holding itself accountable for meeting its goals. [46498/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1157 and 1158 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, my time as Minister is at an end, and it will be for the next Government to progress work in this critically important area.
My Department leads on cross-government policy to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and the National Strategy for Women and Girls (NSWG) 2017-2021 provided a whole-of-Government framework through which women’s rights continue to be advanced. While initially due to conclude in 2020, the Strategy was extended in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its implementation.
My Department is currently developing a successor to the NSWG and a stakeholder consultation was completed at the end of 2024, with the report on the consultation being prepared. This consultation has sought input from both the general public and representatives from across civil society. A National Youth Assembly was convened in September 2024 to attain the views of young people, specifically what gender equality looks like in their lives. These perspectives will inform that priorities of the next National Strategy for Women and Girls.
A separate evaluation of the implementation of the last National Strategy for Women and Girls was undertaken by the Centre for Effective Services. It includes recommendations on developing indicators to measure performance in respect of the successor strategy. These recommendations will inform the development of robust implementation measures for the next strategy.
